Risky mission underway to rescue five men trapped in flooded Laos cave

A complex rescue operation is currently underway in Laos to extract five men found alive after being trapped for over a week in a flooded cave system in Xaisomboun province. Seven villagers initially entered the cave around May 19th-20th, reportedly in search of gold, but heavy rainfall led to flash flooding and a landslide, blocking their exit. On May 27, 2026, a team of Lao, Thai, and international divers located five of the trapped men, who were found sitting on a rocky ledge surrounded by water.

Rescuers have since been supplying food and water to the five survivors, who are reported to be healthy but exhausted and dehydrated. The mission faces significant challenges due to the cave's narrow, inundated passages, muddy conditions with extremely poor visibility, and limited air supply, making extraction a difficult and risky endeavor. Efforts are ongoing to develop a safe extraction plan, including the potential use of water pumps to lower levels inside the cave, while the search continues for the two individuals who remain missing.